JPH03204274A - Color picture transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To send information including a color picture efficiently by sending sequentially a data of a color picture part, a data of a binary picture part and a location of at least one of the two picture parts. CONSTITUTION:The method is a method sending a color picture comprising a color picture part and a binary picture part and provided with a color picture memory 117 and a black/white picture memory 123, and a data of the color picture part, a data of the binary picture part and at least one position of the two picture parts are sent sequentially. Then a color original is once read by an RGB scanner 101, the binary picture part and the color picture part are separated and sent respectively separately. Thus, the data of the color picture and the character data are compressed respectively efficiently and the transmission time is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color facsimile transmission system for transmitting color image data using, for example, a public line.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when trying to transmit a color original using a public line, one is to treat the entire color original as color image data and transmit all the image data as is, or,
There are various methods for compressing and transmitting color images. For example, when transmitting all image data of an A4 size document, RG
When transmitting B color images, the linear density is 400 dpi
In this case, even a binary data image takes 739.9 seconds (12 minutes, 19 seconds, 09 seconds). If it is a multivalued data image,
It takes an extremely long time, 5919.3 seconds (98 minutes 39 seconds 03).

Therefore, several color image compression methods have been proposed in recent years. Such color image compression methods include the vector quantization method, which replaces the image as a set of predetermined no-turns, and the ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Coding method), which is an orthogonal transform encoding method.
teCosine Transform).

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

However, the above-described image transmission method in which the entire image is transmitted as original data is not practical because the transmission time is too long, unless the receiving side wants to receive the data as accurate image data and store it in a storage device.

Next, in the method of image compression and image transmission, if the image is compressed using an appropriate compression algorithm, the amount of data and transmission time will be significantly reduced. However, no matter how appropriate compression techniques are used, increasing the compression rate will still result in the loss of some image information. Furthermore, there is the problem that it is difficult to efficiently compress images that have their own characteristics, such as images with many changes, smooth images, images containing human skin, and images containing text. Ta.

In view of this point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a color image transmission method that can efficiently transmit color images.

[Method for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the method of the present invention is a color image transmission method for transmitting a color image consisting of a color image part and a binary image part, in which data of the color image part is transmitted. A color image transmission method characterized by sequentially transmitting the data of a binary image part and the position of one of the two image parts.The data specifying the position is transmitted sequentially. , is characterized in that it is transmitted before the data of the binary image part.

〔Example〕

In explaining the color facsimile transmission procedure in the embodiment of the present invention, the relationship between pictures and characters will be explained.

FIG. 3-1 is a diagram showing an example of an image original containing characters and a color image. In this embodiment, the range of the color image portion is specified as shown in FIG. 3-2. In the figure, a rectangular frame specifies the area of the picture.

FIG. 3-3 shows an image in which only the color image portion is extracted. As shown in FIG. 3-3, there is a method of separating pictures and text by specifying a portion to be determined as a picture. Such designation may be done manually, or the device may automatically recognize and distinguish between color image areas and characters.

Although a rectangular frame is shown in Figures 3-2 and 3-3,
This embodiment is not limited to this frame. Figure 4 shows various frames. These frames are created by specifying the position and type of frame. As with computer drawing software, you can easily draw a frame in any shape at any location by specifying points.

Next, the appearance of the color facsimile apparatus of this embodiment will be explained using FIG. Such an apparatus is comprised of a color data reading port A, a color print output section B, and an area specifying section C. Color originals are fed through reading port A in the same way as black-and-white facsimiles.

-, the document is transferred to a reading section serving as an area specifying section C. In this embodiment, the reading section has an area specifying section C as shown in FIG. 8 so that the user can specify the frame.
A color original is placed under the touch panel that makes up the
Specify the frame from above using a pen, etc. In this embodiment, a frame is specified for the document being viewed through the touch panel, but the method of specification is not limited to this. May be used. Or, manuscripts where the pictures and text are clearly separated,
A method called image area separation can automatically separate the color image portion and the character portion. - For example, there is a method of automatic discrimination that takes advantage of the fact that the image data changes greatly in the text part, and the change in the picture part is small.

There is a method of separating the image area and character area in this way.

Next, if you want to delete something in the color image you want to send, or if you only need the small frame, you need to specify the frame twice.

In FIG. 5, FIG. 5-1 is a document containing characters and color images. Also, in the manuscript shown in Figure 5-1,
If only part of the color image is required, a method is adopted in which the outer frame and inner frame of the color image are designated, as shown in FIG. 5-2.

In the method shown in FIG. 5-2, an example is shown in which only a picture of a laptop computer in the inner frame is required, and a picture of a printer is not required.

The diagram shown in FIG. 5-3 shows an example in which color images other than necessary among the images shown in FIG. 5-2 are deleted and transmitted. The image data shown in the figure is actually transmitted as facsimile data. Therefore, on the receiving side, a final printed image as shown in FIG. 5-4 is obtained. In this way, in this embodiment, only the necessary area is specified and transmitted without transmitting the entire color image data. Figure 5 shows the case where there is a picture that you want to delete, but if there is a lot of extra edge of the picture, if you want to cut unnecessary parts, or to prevent unnecessary line parts from being read as text data, 2
A heavy frame is specified.

Next, the operation during transmission will be explained using FIG. 6.

Figure 6-1 shows the data processing of the character section. In this embodiment, the color/image data of the document portion is cut out and masked, and ``white'' data, actually 0'', is inserted into that portion. Next, the image data of the image into which white data has been inserted instead of the color image is compressed by encoding, for example, MH, MR or MMR encoding.

In the case of MH, MR, and MMR encoding, the compression efficiency increases when there is a large amount of white data, and by inserting white data instead of the color image, the color image area is automatically freed up in the facsimile data. Become.

Figure 6-2 shows data processing for the color image section. The color image contains only the data of the part surrounded by the inner frame, and the frame is stored separately in the CPU as vector information, so the 6th
-2 It is possible to perform color image compression even if the image is deformed as shown in the figure. Compression of such color image data includes, for example, orthogonal transformation, vector quantization,
Alternatively, a compression method that includes both orthogonal transformation and vector quantization may be used.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the document reading position and data.

If a picture and a text portion coexist at the reading position in the figure, the image data to be read includes a coexistence of two types of data: black-and-white text data and color image data. In this embodiment, as described above, only color image data is extracted from such mixed data and white data is inserted in its place.

When a color document is transmitted by color facsimile using the method described above, pictures and text can be separated.

To summarize, the picture part is handled as color multi-value image data capable of expressing halftones, and the text part is handled as binary or quaternary data, thereby reducing the amount of image transmission data.

Next, the handling of image data separated into pictures and text will be explained.

Specifying a picture part in one color document with a frame is
As mentioned earlier, the specified frame information is necessary to separate the color image data and text in the image, and furthermore,
It must be decoded at the receiving end of the color facsimile transmission. Therefore, frame information must also be transmitted to the other party.

Figures 9-1 and 9-2 show W as the information in the aforementioned frame.
Po
5t Shows the program information of 5script.

For example, to indicate the size of the frame of a BOX type window as shown in Figure 9-1, vector information represented by the specified program data shown on the monitor as shown in Ml can be used. I can do it. Furthermore, in order to indicate the position of the BOX type window, the position can be freely specified by changing the data represented by ■ in the figure.

FIG. 9-2 shows a circular window frame. In the case of Po5t5script, the designated program data shown on the monitor, ie, one line, can be represented as a circular window, as shown in M2.

Of course, on the sending side, instead of the sender writing such a program directly, the information specified with a pen etc. can be automatically converted into the program information shown in Figure 9 as described above. .

Then, in the color facsimile machine on the receiving side, pictures and characters are arranged and printed based on this information.

In this embodiment, the frame information is used by a printer, etc. (Po5t 5script is used as an example, but
It is possible to use not only methods that generate vector information but also other methods.

FIG. 10 shows a form in which the color image data and character data are transmitted separately. The order of transfer does not matter, but it is sufficient that the three types of data are transmitted separately and separately.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 12 shows its timing chart.

In this device, the RGB scanner part 101 reads multivalued image data and converts it into Co1 or Co1 according to vector information.
Generated from the enable generation circuit 103. Co1
The data is divided into color data and monochrome data according to the or Enable signal. That is, the color data is latched for each RGB color by latches 109, 111, and 113, and temporarily stored in the color image memory 117.
Color image compression is applied.

Note that 125 is a color image compression circuit, which performs color multi-level compression, and 127 is a black and white encoding circuit, which performs MH, MR
, MMR, etc. encoding is performed.

130 is an area specifying circuit such as the above-mentioned digitizer or point pen, and the CPU 107 converts the specified area of the circuit 107 into vector data such as the above-mentioned Po5t5script.

On the other hand, after the monochrome data is latched by the latch 115,
0' is inserted by the white data insertion circuit 117 and the selector 119 which operates according to the Co1orEnable signal when the area is a color data processing area. The data is then binarized by the binarization circuit 118 and stored in the monochrome image memory 123 as character data.

Next, the values in the black and white image memory stored in the memories 117 and 123 as described above are encoded using encoding methods such as M Hl MR, M to IR, and both data are transmitted by the communication control circuit 129 . FIG. 12 shows a timing chart for explaining the operation of the device shown in FIG. 11.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a timing chart during reading of a color original. In FIG. 10, a case will be explained in which there is a diagonal part like a parallelogram in the frame specification.

The timing when the document at the position shown in Line is read is shown as timing 1. The image data is read at the timing of reading C1ock, but the Co1or Enable generated from the frame designation vector information
Depending on the e signal, the data is divided into a black and white binary data portion or a color data portion. While color data is selected by Co1or Enable, white data 0' is inserted for monochrome data.

Line 2 is the next line after Line, and in this example, the frame is specified as a parallelogram, so Co
1 or Enable is distributed with a pixel shift as shown in the figure compared to Line.

The above procedure will be explained using the flowchart of the color facsimile data creation procedure shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, first, specify the paper size.

1) Then, a frame for a portion of the color document to be designated as a picture is designated (S02). Po5t mentioned before specifying the frame
Generate wind vector information such as 5script (
803).

Next, it is determined whether the given data is only vector information (SO4). If it is not determined in this determination that it is only vector information, then the flow branches from SO4 to SO5 because it is a case where image information is to be transmitted.

In SO5, the sensor is moved to the position on the document to be scanned, and the positional force (to determine whether it is a color image area or a black and white image area) is used to scan the document.

7) In the case of color, please change the color data 5)
O9) and save in the color image memory (S11).

In S13, it is determined whether the saved data is the last data in one line, and if it is the last data, the color data is compressed (S15).

Further, if the scanned position is determined to be a monochrome image area in SO7, monochrome color data is latched, and if it corresponds to a color image area, "00" data is inserted (821). Then, binarization is performed (S23),
Save in black and white image memory (825). In S27, it is determined whether the data to be saved is the final data in one line, and if it is the final data, black-and-white compression encoding is performed (
S29).

In S31, it is determined whether all lines for one page of the original have been completed, and if all lines have not been completed (the flow branches to fSO5 and the sensor is moved to the next scan position using this step LA). , performs the same operation as described above.

When processing of data for all lines is completed (S31)
, vector information, color image information, and black-and-white data are transmitted, for example, in the format shown in FIG. 10 (S33.35).
．． 37).

As explained above, in this embodiment, a color document is once read by an RGB scanner, and as described above, the binary image part and the color image part are separated and sent separately, thereby creating color image data. Character data can be compressed efficiently and transmission time can be shortened.

In this embodiment, black-and-white character data is also read by a scanner that reads RGB color data, and the black-and-white and color data are distinguished by area determination. However, some scanners equipped with optical systems that read only black and white can print out more accurate character data.

Therefore, a COD with a color filter mounted on the reading section is used to read color data, but a scanner may also be used to read monochrome data using a COD without a color filter.

In such a case, a black and white sensor is required as part of the sensor, and an additional signal processing circuit is required, but the RG
It is possible to obtain more accurate black data than the black data produced by the B scanner.

Specifically, in the embodiment described above, the RGB scanner part 101 may be provided with a black and white reading section.

As explained above, according to the color facsimile procedure according to this embodiment, when transmitting a color image, by handling the picture part and the text part separately, it is possible to perform compression that suits the characteristics of each part. In order to realize color facsimile, it is not necessary to transmit a huge amount of image data (by inserting white data in the text part where it is determined that it is a picture, compression efficiency is increased, and There is no need to go through the procedure of opening the parts.

In the text section, like conventional black and white facsimiles,
It can be handled easily as it is treated as character image data and there is no need to go through the process of converting characters into coats.

In this way, in realizing color facsimile,
Color data and black and white data can be mixed and transmitted.

In addition, in this embodiment, when transmitting the color image part and the binary image part sequentially, the position information of only the color image part is transmitted as the vector information shown in FIG. 10, but the position information of the binary image part Only the information may be transmitted, or both location information may be transmitted. Such positional information is not limited to vector information, and may be simply transmitted by coordinates.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, information including color images can be efficiently transmitted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3-1, FIG. 3-2, and FIG. 3-3 are diagrams for explaining the operation of this embodiment, respectively. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the window shown in FIG. 3-2. 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 are diagrams for explaining the operation of this embodiment, respectively. FIGS. 6-1 and 6-2 are diagrams showing compression processing of monochrome data and color image data, respectively. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the document reading position and data. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 9-1 and FIG. 9-2 are diagrams showing a BOX type window, a circular window type, and a description formula thereof, respectively. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the order of image data transmitted by the device shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the reading timing of a color document read by the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the device shown in FIG. 2. 101...RGB scanner 04...Scanner control circuit 17...Color image memory 23...Black and white image memory 25...Color image compression circuit 27...Black and white encoding circuit 29...Communication control circuit Image with text and color images Image with only extracted color images Image with text and color images Figure 4: Each platform J mouse dtpur's worship, Figure 5-2: Unnecessary color images have been deleted Character section Data processing Figure 5-4 Final printed image I MH line encoding (MR encoding> data + color code 2nd - / jump type 臥π〆ρj 夷j 2 times transfer word d bite form 憇

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A color image transmission method for transmitting a color image consisting of a color image part and a binary image part, wherein the data of the color image part, the data of the binary image part, and at least one of the two image parts A color image transmission method characterized by sequentially transmitting either one of the positions. (2) The color image transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data specifying the position is transmitted before the data of the color image section and the data of the binary image section.